West Berkshire · London and the South East
Wash Common Chimney Survey
Chimney surveys in Wash Common from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Lifted or split lead flashings
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- A chimney out of line
Chimney survey in Wash Common
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. Cracked flaunching, failed flashings and worn pointing are common findings on older stacks. You get photographs and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Typical surveys look at unused flues sealed without airflow and damp on a chimney breast inside, on chimney breasts, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks.
Around Wash Common, older cottages sit alongside bungalows and newer houses. Older roofs can have slate, clay tiles or other traditional coverings, while many later ones have concrete tiles. On older homes, chimney stacks, valleys and gutters are usually where the work is, and the fixings under the coverings matter too. Nails and battens under older coverings often give out before the slates or tiles themselves.
The Standard Survey adds moisture detection, a structural check and a follow-up consultation. The Premium Survey goes further, with thermal imaging, drone inspection where applicable, structural analysis and an in-person consultation.
- Place
- Wash Common (RG14, RG20)
- Wider area
- West Berkshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- A written report with photos, by email
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Chimney surveys in Wash Common: local notes
Historic houses such as Benham Park, about 2.4 miles north-west, show how far back building in the area around Wash Common goes. On older houses around here, roofs often carry the marks of earlier repairs, from replaced slates to new lead, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first. Across the South East, older homes tend to have slate or clay tiles, and many later ones concrete tiles, and flat-roofed additions turn up almost everywhere. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first.
Landlords with a home close to Newbury station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at. The streets around a church such as St Luke Church are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look. Living close to Sandleford Priory is pleasant, but mature trees mean leaves in gutters and valleys each autumn, so outlets and downpipes are worth watching.
Wash Common is about 2 miles south-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. Whether the building in Wash Common is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Wash Common is one of the towns and villages in West Berkshire where we work for chimney surveys. Our Reading page covers surveys nearby.
All of RG14 and RG20 is within our area for chimney surveys. If you need a chimney survey at a property on Battle Road, Stuart Road and Warren Road or a nearby road, we can help. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include Wash Water (1 mile south-west), Enborne Row (1 mile south-west), Skinners Green (1 mile north-west), Newtown Common (1 mile south-east) and Sandleford (1 mile east). Further out, we also cover Thatcham (4 miles north-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Hungerford (8 miles west), Calcot (14 miles east), Lambourn (12 miles north-west) and Shaw (3 miles north-east).
Around Wash Common
In Wash Common, that means homes and buildings near Horris Hill School, Park House School and The Gun pub and the streets around them. For rail, the closest station is Newbury station, roughly 1.8 miles north-east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include British Balloon Museum & Library Ltd (2 miles north-east) and Hamstead Marshall 2 (2.7 miles north-west). Open spaces near Wash Common include Sidown Hill and Audrey's Meadow.
Nearby places to Wash Common
Other services in Wash Common
Surveys for landlords and agents in Wash Common
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. Surveys run on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, which helps when tenants work during the week.
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
What we do, step by step
We photograph the roof as we go, so you can see in the report what we found and where. Close-ups come from the safest viewpoint available, including by drone where it is applicable and the weather allows. A typical visit takes roughly 1–2 hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. In a smaller place like Wash Common, as anywhere, the forecast plays a part: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- You let us know whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- The report explains the condition and which work is most urgent.
Before we arrive
- Keep pets inside or away from the areas we’re looking at
- If the roof is shared, arrange access with whoever manages the building
- Unlock side gates and any roof access doors
Arrange a survey
Prices start from £150, including VAT. The exact figure depends on the roof and the package, so ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the details.
Advice
DIY checks: what’s safe
It helps to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What affects the price in Wash Common
Survey packages start from £150, inc. VAT. What you pay for your roof depends on:
- Building height and the viewpoints available
- House, block, shop or office
- Whether thermal imaging or a drone is needed
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
To find out what your survey will cost, call 07833 053749 or send us an email with the address and a few details. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
What we need to know
What helps most when you contact us:
- Whether there’s a loft hatch, a shared roof or tricky access
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
- The property’s address and postcode
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
Once you know what you need, ring 07833 053749 or send us an email. From there it’s a case of choosing a package, agreeing the price and fixing a day, weekday or weekend.
Different roofs, different checks
Brick stacks
Older brick stacks frequently have soft lime mortar. Repairs should suit the original materials, which we mention where relevant.
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photographs.
Wash Common: your questions answered
Do you survey roofs for landlords with property near Newbury station?
Yes. We survey roofs for landlords, letting agents and managing agents as well as owners. Just call 07833 053749 or use the contact form with the details, and we’ll talk through which survey suits.
Is my home in Wash Common listed or in a conservation area?
The council and Historic England’s list are the places to check. It is worth checking before planning roof work, as both can affect what’s allowed.
Our stack is shared. Can you still survey it?
Yes. We check the parts we can see safely and the parts you can give us access to. Where a problem appears to be on next door’s side, we note it and you can raise it with them.
Will you go up on the roof?
Only if it’s safe. We check everything that can safely be seen: from the ground, from windows and vantage points, from the roof space, from the roof itself where safe and by drone where it applies. The report says if anything couldn’t be seen.
Do you survey on Saturdays and Sundays?
We carry out surveys on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. To arrange a date, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Do I need to be at home?
That depends on the survey. For inside areas and the loft space, someone has to give us access.
How long does the survey take?
It normally takes an hour or two at a typical home, and more on a big or complicated roof. You’ll then get the report by email, on the timescale of your package.
Useful tips for Wash Common property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Some tips:
- Check your stacks from ground level after strong winds
- Don’t use a ladder to reach the stack yourself
- Make sure fixings on the stack are secure
- Photograph damp patches with the date
If the stack is shared, you can pass the report to your neighbour. The photos show the problem and which side it’s on, as far as we could see.
Check your stacks from the street or garden after a storm. Binoculars help you spot loose pots, missing mortar or lifted flashings.